Automatic electric cut-out switch.



APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, 1910.

Patented May 7, 1912.

un/Mucous q7 WL Quorum 'of this character whereby ROBERT WINTERHALDER, OF KAMLOOPS, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC GUT-OUT SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May *7, 1912.

Application filed February 3, 1910. Serial No. 541,799.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, Ronnn'r VVINTER- HALDER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Electric Cut-Out Switches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic electric cut out switches.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction and operation of switches rent conducting wire in which the switch is arranged become broken the current will be immediately cut 011'.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanyin drawings, Figure 1 is an enlarged elevation of my improved switch and its operating mechanism; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of one form of electric railway system showing the application of the switch thereto; Fig. 3 is a similar view of another form of railway system.

My improved switch comprises a base 1 on which is pivotally mounted an obtuse angle switch lever 2 provided at the bend or angle thereof with a suitable handle 3, and carrying at one end a terminal connecting brush 4. The brush 4 is preferably of segmental or are shape and is connected with the free end of the lever 2 by a suitable bolt 5 and is insulated from the lever by vulcanite washers or other suitable insulating devices 6. On the base 1 are arranged the contact or terminal blocks 8 and 9 of the circuit which is controlled by the switch and with which the opposite ends of the brush 1 are engaged to complete the circuit when the switch is in operative position.

Arranged on the base 1 i a solenoid 10 having a core 11 which is a apted to slide in and out of the solenoid when the latter is energized and deenergized. The core 11 is connected at its outer end with one end of a bell crank lever 12, pivotally mounted on the base 1 and having on its 0 posite end a catch 13 which is adapted to he engaged should the cur-.

with a hook on the end of the arm 7 of the switch lever 2 when the solenoid is energized, thereby holding the switch in opera.- tlve position to complete the circuit connected with the terminals 8 and 9. Arranged on the core 11 of the solenoid is a weight 14 which will aid in the operation of the lever 12 when the solenoid is de energized by accelerating the dropping of the core whereby a positive action is imparted to the bell crank lever to cause the same to release/the switch lever 2. hen the catch 13 has thus been disengaged from the arm 7 to release the lever 2, said lever is immediately swung back on its pivot by a spring 15, thus disconnecting the brush from the contact terminals 8 and D and thereby breaking the circuit. On the base 1 at a suitable distance below the outer end of the core 11 is arrangeda stop 16 which is adapted to receive and support the hand lever when the latter is released by the solenoid and dropped.

In the arrangement of the circuit conducting wires shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings,'the terminal 8 is connected by a current conducting wire 17 to the positive terminal 18' of an electric generator 19, while the contact terminal 9 is connected by a current conducting wire 20 with the trolley wire 21 of the railway system or with any other main current conducting wire. The track 22 is in electric connection with the negative terminal 23 of the generator so that when the switch is closed the electric circuit will be completed between the trolley wire and track through the trolley pole and car passing along the same. The solenoid 10 is connected at one end to a return wire 24:, the opposite end of which is connected to the terminal of the trolley wires, preferably through a suitable reducing coil 25. The opposite end of the solenoid is connected by a conducting wire 26 with the negative terminal 23 of the generator. By thus connecting the solenoid, it will be seen that the same will remain energized to hold the core in a retracted position and the switch in a closed position until a break occurs at some point in the trolley or conducting wires, at which time the solenoid circuit will be broken and the solenoid thus deenergized, which will cause the core to drop or be forced down by the weight thereon, thus releasing the switch lever and per.- mitting the spring 15 to throw the switch to an open position. thus cutting off the electric current from the generator.

In Fig. 23 of the drawings is shown a different arrangement of the current conductine' wires in which my improved switch may be successfully employed. In this instance a main current eondueting wire 27 is provided. one end of the same being conneeted with the positive terminal of the generator. to the opposite or negative teriuinal 20 of which is eleetrieally connected one the tracks 30 of the railway. in connection with this arrangement or system of wires, i'uy improved switches are arranged at suitable intervals or distances apart along the railway. ()ne of the ctmtact terminals of the switches when thus arranged is conneeted by a short feed wire 31 with the teed wires 27 while the opposite contact terminals ot' the switches are connected by short rondueting wires 82 with the trolley Wire 533 of the railway. The trolley wire 33 is formed in separate or independent sections. said sections terminating at the switches along the railway. The end of" each trolley wire seet ion opposite to the conducting wires 112 is connected by a return section of a ire lit to one end of the solenoid 1.0 of the switch for this section of the trolley. the opposite end of the solenoid being: connected through conducting wires 3:35. with the track rail 3t) and through the same with the negative terminal of the dependently completing the circuit through the solenoids of each of the sections. The return wires 34 are luet'erably connected to the trolley wires II by red ueing or resistance (oils 36. whereby the current of the trolley wire is reduced in the return wire such reeorrespondino with the lengtlnot duetion 1 3 the return ire. by zllluHQHlQ the wires as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, .it will be generator. thereby iul seen that the circuit is completed through each section of the trolley wlre independently of the other sections so that, should the wires of any of the sections be current will be cut oil from the solenoid in the switch of this particular section and the switches thus operated to cut oil the current from said section withoutintert'ering with the operation of any other sections of the system.

From the foregoing description taken in eonneetion with the accompanying drawings. the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood with out requiring a more extended explanation.

Having thus described my invention, whatclaim is:

switch of the character described comprising a lever pivoted intermediate its ends a hooked arni 'lorniing a part of said lever and projecting angularly from the pivoted portion thereof, a brush attached to one end of the lever and adapted for engagement with fixed contacts, a handle forming the opposite end ot the lever, a spring for moving the latter out of operative position. a solenoid having a weighted core pr0- jet-ting there't'roin, and a pivoted hell crank lever having a short hooked arm for engagement with the hooked arm of the lever to hold the brush in operative position, the projecting weighted end of the core being hingedly attaehed to the long arm of the bell crank lever.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto setmy hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

broken, the

ROBE T WIN'IEIU'IALDER.

'itnesses:

T. A. Cram, A. E. GALIIN. 

